OECD Development Week National Strategies for Development: from paper to action

Abstract

Statement by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the OECD Development Week National Strategies for Development: From Paper to Action. Mr. Lopes, on his remarks highlighted that, a strong role for the State demands a matching strong role for economic agents and markets. The State has an important role to play by recognizing the benefits and limits of markets and accordingly, proactively addressing market failures. Practical steps of assuring the State is able to assume this role includes the focus on recovering a regulatory capacity. State capacity depends somehow on coherence provided by visionary leadership and determination offered by a supporting system. It is necessary to establish credible consultation processes, empower stakeholders and rally everyone around a common vision. Global partnerships and the part they remain crucial to the achievement of developmental goals. The paradigm under which global partnerships currently operate needs to be realigned to reflect national priorities and ownership.